Holy Names High pitcher's mission: 'Strikeout Hunger'

OAKLAND -- Holy Names High School junior Rachel Sanders hopes to someday become an architect and has other passions as well. One is playing the violin. Another is softball.

As the Monarchs' top pitcher, Sanders struck out 140 batters in 2012 and 122 as a freshman in 2011. This year, the Monarchs have high hopes for a successful season, and Sanders, for her part, has visions of recording 200 strikeouts.

Sanders has other passions as well, such as helping the less fortunate. This year, she looks to put pitching and fundraising together toward a mission she calls "Strikeout Hunger." Her goal is to raise money for the Bay Area Rescue Mission, with individuals and businesses pledging donations based on the number of batters she strikes out this season, which will end June 1.

Based in Richmond, the Bay Area Rescue Mission is a nonprofit organization that addresses the needs of the homeless and impoverished in the Bay Area.

"My family and I have always donated our old clothes to the rescue mission," Sanders said. "This winter, I scheduled a tour and saw how great the mission was."

Pledges also can be made for flat donations (a fixed sum not based on Sanders's strikeouts). In all, Sanders hopes to raise $5,000 for the rescue mission, which she will deliver on June 2.

Sanders is no stranger to community service, which Holy Names requires all of its students to perform. Through "Strikeout Hunger," she has given that service a creative twist. She has even launched a website, http://rachelsanders2014.wordpress.com/strikeout-hunger, to detail her vision.

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Sanders already has approached "Strikeout Hunger" as aggressively as she does opposing batters on the softball diamond.

"She's been calling some major companies and some sports teams," said Jay Sanders, the student-athlete's father. "So far, it's been a couple weeks, but she's raised $1,100. She's reached out on Facebook as well. And Corpus Christi Church (where the Sanders family members are parishioners) allowed her to put out fliers. I'm really proud of her."

Rachel Sanders hopes that softball can take her far, as it did her older sister Nicole, a Holy Names graduate now playing as a freshman at South Carolina State University. And this year, Sanders and her current Holy Names teammates have high expectations of playing deep into the North Coast Section playoffs.

At the same time, Sanders hopes that her efforts in the pitching circle also will benefit the Bay Area Rescue Mission.

fyi
Those wishing to pledge to "Strikeout Hunger" should make their checks payable to Bay Area Rescue Mission. Donations may be mailed to 2114 MacDonald Ave., Richmond, CA 94801. Donations also can be made online at http://bit.ly/StrikeoutHunger2013. The Bay Area Rescue Mission is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, and donations may be tax-deductible. More information can be found at http://www.bayarearescue.org.